Antonov An-2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-2

The Antonov An-2 (Russian nickname: "Annushka" or "Annie"; "kukuruznik" - corn
crop duster; USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt.) is a
Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft
designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1946. Its
remarkable durability, high lifting power, and ability to take off and land from
poor runways have given it a long service life. The An-2 was produced up to 2001
and remains in service with military and civilian operators around the world.

The An-2 was designed as a utility aircraft for use in forestry and agriculture.
However, the basic airframe is highly adaptable and numerous variants of the
type have been developed; these include hopper-equipped versions for
crop-dusting, scientific versions for atmospheric sampling, water-bombers for
fighting forest-fires, flying ambulances, float-equipped seaplane versions and
lightly armed combat versions for dropping paratroops. The most common version
is the An-2T 12-seater passenger aircraft. All versions (other than the An-3)
are powered by a 750 kW (1,010 hp) nine-cylinder Shvetsov ASh-62 radial engine,
which was developed from the Wright R-1820. The AN-2 typically consumes 43
gallons of avgas per hour.

The Antonov An-2 was designed to meet a 1947 Soviet Ministry of Forestry
requirement for a replacement for the much lighter, largely wooden-airframed
Polikarpov Po-2, which was used in large numbers in both agricultural and
utility roles. Antonov designed a large single bay biplane of all-metal
construction, with an enclosed cockpit and a cabin with room for seats
accommodating twelve passengers. The first prototype, designated SKh-1 and
powered by a Shvetsov ASh-21 radial engine, flew on 31 August 1947. The second
prototype was fitted with a more powerful Shvetsov ASh-62 engine, which allowed
the aircraft's payload to be significantly increased from 1,300 to 2,140 kg
(2,870 to 4,720 lb), and in this form it was ordered into production.

The An-2 has no stall speed, a fact which is quoted in the operating handbook. A
note from the pilot's handbook reads: "If the engine quits in instrument
conditions or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft and
keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 64 km/h (40
mph) and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph),
the airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits
the ground." As such, pilots of the An-2 have stated that they are capable of
flying the aircraft in full control at 48 km/h (30 mph) (as a contrast, a modern
Cessna four-seater light aircraft has a stall speed of around 80 km/h (50 mph)).
This slow stall speed makes it possible for the aircraft to fly backwards
relative to the ground (if the aircraft is pointed into a headwind of roughly 56
km/h (35 mph), it will travel backwards at 8.0 km/h (5 mph) whilst under full
control).


Role
Agricultural and utility aircraft

Manufacturer
Antonov

Designer
Oleg Antonov

First flight
31 August 1947

Status
Series production may still continue in China as the Shijiazhuang Y-5; engine
refitting project underway

Primary users
Soviet Union
North Korea
China
Many others

Produced
1947–2001

Number built
18,000+

Variants
Antonov An-3

During the Croatian War of Independence in 1991, a number of aged An-2 biplanes
previously used for crop-spraying were converted by the Croatian Air Force to
drop makeshift boiler bombs; they were also used to conduct supply missions to
the town of Vukovar and other besieged parts of Croatia. The chief advantage for
the An-2 was that they could take off and land in small or improvised airstrips;
they were also frequently used to drop supplies by parachute on isolated
garrisons. At least one AN-2 was shot down on 2 December 1991 over Vinkovci,
eastern Slavonia, by a Serbian surface to air missile (SAM) emplacement which
purportedly launched a salvo of SA-6s at the aircraft. Following the shootdown,
the flights over Serbian lines ceased, due to the presence of TV guided SA-6.
The previous radar guided AA systems were avoided by keeping the airplane's
speed below 140 km/h, the speed of objects that radars were programmed to erase
from the screen.

In recent years, the An-2 has also gained popularity in the U.S. and Canada,
where it has often been used as a bushplane. Because of their reliability and
robustness, several operators have continued to use the type to conduct
scheduled passenger service between airstrips in Western countries; one example
of such use being the air service between the North Sea islands of Sylt and
Föhr. As of 2015, there were thousands of An-2s remaining in operation around
the world, including over 1,500 in Russia, 294 in Kazakhstan and 54 in Ukraine.

Specifications (An-2)

General characteristics
Crew: 1–2
Capacity: 12 passengers
Length: 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
Wingspan:
Upper wing: 18.2 m (59 ft 8 in)
Lower wing: 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)

Height: 4.1 m (13 ft)
Wing area: 71.52 m² (769.8 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,300 kg (7,300 lb)
Useful load: 2,140 kg (4,700 lb)
Loaded weight: 5,440 kg (12,000 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov ASh-62IR 9-cylinder supercharged radial engine, 750 kW
(1,000 hp)

Performance
Maximum speed: 258 km/h (139 kn, 160 mph)
Cruise speed: 190 km/h (100 kn, 120 mph)
Stall speed: ~50 km/h (26 knots, 30 mph)
Range: 845 km (456 nmi, 525 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,750 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.5 m/s (700 ft/min)
Power/mass: 0.136 kW/kg (0.083 hp/lb)





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